Spar-propeller.



J. REAIVI.

SPAR PROPELLER. APPLICATION FILED JULY 12. m3. RENEWED APR 19, 1916.

Patenwi Nev. 28, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

05/22 Few/m @Mlommg J. BEAM. SPAR PROPELLER.

APPLICAUON FILED JULY 12.1933 RENEWED APR-19.1916. 1L fgfifififi? Patented Nov. 28, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Elam/ 1. BEAM.

SPAR PROPELLER. APPLICATION FILED JULY 12. ms. RENEWED APR. 19.1916.

3 SHEETS-SHFIET s.

E-arqszb iEI & if

- ammo 2 0/22?) W w/Tm w'i bnaooeo J 4/ JOHN BEAM, F JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

SJEAIt-PBOPELLER.

reoeear.

Specification of Letters Patent.

]Patented Nov. 28,1916.

Application filed July 12, 1913, Serial No. 778,734.. Renewed April 19, 1916. Serial No. 9231a.

being alternately engaged with and withdrawn from the bottom and serving to move the craft as they are thrust downwardly by proper draft rigging into engagement with the bottom or bed of the stream.

Propellers of this type are designed more particularly for boats used in streams of relatively shallow draft and artificial waterways.

My inventionrolates to this general type and has for its object to provide a series of spars and opera-ting mechanism which will automatically thrust and withdraw the spar at regular intervals so as to give a continuous propulsion toithe boat.

In order that the invention may be clear to those skilled in this art I have illustrated it inthe accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side ele at-ion of a portion of a barge or scoiv' with my propelling mechanism attached; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a detail view of'one of the trip and clutch mechanisms. Fig. 1 1s a detail view of the latching mechanism for the winding drum cl'ntch. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of the cross head and track-way. Fig. 6 is a side View partly in section of a portion of the trackway. spar and cross head. Fig. 7 is a detail of the releasing mechanism for the clutch retaining latch.

Referring to the drawings by numerals like numbers indicating like parts in the several views 10 indicates a barge or scow of any ordinary construction having mounted thereon a suitable propeller supporting frame comprising uprights 11 and stringers 12 of any suitable size and dimensions. Supported by said framework are the spar supporting tracks 13, which, as shown extend from the rear end of the boat upwardly to the stringer 12 to which they are suitably secured, each track '13 being preferably.

straight from its lower end through substantially two-thirds of its length, and then.

curving upwardly to its point ofattachment to the stringer 12, this curvature of the track I 13 giving the proper line of movement to the spar.

Each track 13 is made up of two opposed ,T-plates or beams ll spaced slightly apart to form a way for a cross-head 15 formed two U-shaped plates 16 which engage the horizontal flanges of the T-beams 14-. --l.lourna led in suitable bearings 17 on the. cross head 15 is a spar-supporting shaft, 18,' to

which shaft the upper end of the spar 19' is swiveled by a pivot pin 20. By this construction a universal movement of the spaiy' 19 is,secured so that it may adjust itself to thevarious positions it assumes in operation.

Each of the spars 19, which are four in number in the present showing although a greater or less number may be used. is pro vided near its upper end with an eye bolt 21 to which is'secured the draft rope 22 said draft rope passing over a guide pulley :23 on the deck, of the barge and thence to a suitable winch or drun-rit-l." Near its lower end or foot each of the spars is provided with an eye bolt 25 to which is connected a draft rope .26 which passes upwardly over suitable pulleys carried by the stringer 1:2, said draft rope :26 passing to a drum 2T.

\Vith this construction it will be seen that the spar 19 will be drawn upwardly by the draft rope 26 when the drum 2? operated. and that when the drum 21 is operated draft will be put upon the rope 22 so as to thrust the spar 19 down against the bottom of the stream and exert a poling action to move the boat forward, the crossdiead 1'5 traveling up and down the track 13. T he drum 27 which lifts the spar is of greater diameter than the drum 2% which draws the spardownward,

the purpose of which difference in diameter will be explained hereinafter.

The spar 19 has its lower end shod with metal and pointed as at 28 so as to give a sure grip on the bottom, and in order that the foot may properly engage even a bottom where the pointed foot 28 would be likely to slip I provide the spring plate 29 which is pivoted at 30 to the foot and braced by the frame 31' when in its open position. A. spring normally tends to depress the plate 29 toward the foot, but it will be obvious that when. the point of the plate 29 engages the bottom and the spar is thrust down- 1 ,aoa aav and (I are grouped near their lower ends,

this arrangement being necessary for the proper functioning of the spars. The soy eral latches are each normally held in the position shown in Fig. 3 by the spring which maintains them in. this normal posi tion until they are pulled downwardly by the engagement of the trip 37 on the spar with the toe of the latch; the trip 37 and.

the latch toe being engaged, when the curved face 52 strikes the incline 53 on the side of the track-way, it will throw the latch a to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, a spring 54- returning the latch (L to its normal position after the trip has passed, All the latches are provided with fingers 37 for convenience of operation.

The trips 37 on the cross heads have -on one side an inclined face, as shown in Fig. I), which on the lifting and return of the spar strikes -a similarly inclined face on the toe of the latch, whereupon the latch a. will swing outward without pulling the cord, and thus the cross head will slide freely past the series of latches, all of whichare of the same construction, without jamming or breaking of the parts.

It will be understood that both of the lifting drums 27 and bothof'the. power drums 2% are provided with clutch levers and latch connections as above described,

the clutch levers and releasing latches being so correlated as that the pair of outer spars wild alternate with the pair of inner spars in lifting and thrusting, although it will be obvious that the connections may be arranged to give any emnbina'tion of pairs' of spars that may be desired.

Such changes as are within the range of mechanical skill may be adopted without departing from the spirit of my invention,

as the present disclosure is merely illustra tive and not restrictive ot' the same.

The operation of the invention in brief is as follows: Assuming the parts to be in the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the spars moving in the direction indicated by the arrows. that is. the inner spars descending and the outer spars ascending and near the completion oi their upward movement. The ascending spars move faster than the descending spars because their pulling rope is operated by drum :27 of greater diameter than the drum 1H upon which the down wardly thrusting ropes are 'wound. The outer spars will therefore reach the limit of their upward movement. strike the thrust rods 42 and disengage the drum 2% before the inner spars reach the latches 7/. The outer spars are held in their upward move ment for a short time by.the latches +0 or until the descending spars operate the latches 7) whereupon the latches disconnect the elevated outer. s )ars and they drop by gravity to the bed ()i the stream, which as will be seen from Fig. l is a very short distance. The outer spars will remain in this position a very short while dragging upon the bed of the stream until one of the latches on the t acks of the inner thrusting spars is operated by said spar to engage the clutch members 4-8 ands?) of the drum 24- upon which is wound the rope for thrusting the outer spars downwardly, whereupon these outer spars will at once begin to operate and drive the boat forward. The two sets of spars now move downwardly at the same speed, the inner spars travel but a short distance farther when they operatethe latches d to disconnect the drum 2-1 by which they are being thrust downwardly. The inner spars thereupon cease to operate and are dragged momentarily along the bottom of the stream or until the outer spars actuate the latches a. which occurs almost immediately to couple the drum 27 upon which is wound the elevating rope 26 for the inner spars, whereupon the said inner spars are drawn upwardly slipping past the latches in succession without operating them in the manner heretofore described, and moving upwardly at a much faster speed than the outer spars descend, quickly reach their upper limit ot movement and operate the thrust rods 42 to disconnect the elevating drum 2? and engage with the locking latches -l-0.

'1. In a propeller ot the class described, the combination with a plurality, of pro pelling spars, of mechanism for lifting said spars, separate means for exerting a downward thrust on said spars, and independent automatic means to separately throw said lifting and thrusting mechanisms into and out of operation.

2. In a propeller of the class described, the combination with a plurality oi pro pelling spars. for lifting and for exerting a downward thrust on said spars. said mechanisms being timed to operate said spars alternately in two groups, tripping mechanisms operated by the downward movement of the Spars of each gronpto connect the elevating mechanism for the spars of the other group.

then connecting the mechanism for drawing said spars downwardly and finally disconnecting their own downwardly thrusting mechanism. and means operated by the upward movement of the spars tor disconnecting then-elevating mechanism.

iii In a propeller ot' the class described, the combination with a plurality of propelling spar. of independent mechanisms for elevating and for exerting a dowtnvard t v thrust on said spars, said mechanisms being of independent mechanisms spans of each 'mechanism for lifting said &

timed to operate said spars alternately in two groups, separate means actuated by the group on their downward movement to successively throw the lifting mechanism of the other group into operation, then the thrusting group into operation and finally disconnecting its own thrusting mechanism, and means actuatedby each spar upon the completion of its upward movement for disconnecting the elevating mechanism of its own group.

4. In a propeller of the class described, .the combination with a plurality of propelling spars, of independent mechanisms for lifting and for exerting a downwa1'd"thrust on said spars, said mechanisms being timed to operate said spars alternately in two groups, mechanism for temporarily locking each spar in its elevated position, separate means actuated by the spars of each group on their downward movement to successively throw the lifting mechanism of the other group into operation to raise the spars thereof into engagement with said locking mechanism, then unlocking said spars, then throwing thedownwardly thrusting mechanism of said group into operation and finally disconnecting its own downwardly thrusting mechanism, and means actuated lay/each spar upon the completion of its upward movement for disconnecting the elevating mechanism of its group.

i 5. In a propeller of the class described, the combination with a ling spars, of cross heads to which the sair spars are pivotally connected, guiding tracks for said cross heads, mechanism for lifting .Jaid spars, mechanism for exerting a downward thrust on said spars, and means on said ,tracks in the path of movement of said spars to alternately throw said lifting and thrustmg mechanisms into and out of operation.

6. In a propeller of the class described, the combination with a plurality of propelling spars, cross heads to which said spars are connected for universal movement, guiding tracks for said cross heads, mechanism for lifting said spars, mechanism for exerting a down and thrust on said spars, and spring latches on said guiding tracks in the path of movement of said spars to alternately throw said lifting and thrusting mechanisms into and out of operation.

7. In a propeller of the class described.

the combination with 'a plurality of propelling spars, cross heads to which said spars are connected for universal movement, guiding tracks on which. said cross heads slide,

spars, mechanism for exerting a downward thrust on said spars, and a series of latches on said guiding tracks adapted to be tripped by said spars to alternately throw said' lifting and thrusting mechanisms into and ut of operation.

mechanism of said.

plurality of propel 8. In! a propeller of the class described, the combination with propelling spars, of cross-heads connected with said spars for universal movement, guiding tracks for said spars, means for lifting and thrusting said spars, means for retaining a lifted spar in its vupper position, and means actuated by movement of a thrust spar to release said lifted spar.

9. In a propeller of the class described, the combination with cross-heads connected with said spars for universal movement, guiding i-rzachs for said spars, power-mechanism for lifting said spars, power-mechanism for thrusting said spars, means for retaining a lifted spar in its upper position, means actuated by move ment of a thrust spar to release said lifted spar, and means actuated by a thrust spar to apply power to said lifted spar.

In a propeller of the class described, a plurality 'of spars, power-mechanism for lifting said spars, and means actuated by a lifted spar for throwing said power-mechanism out of action. i

11. In a propeller of the class described, a plurality of spars, power-mechanism for lifting said spars, a clutch controlling said power-mechanism, and trip mechanism in' the path of a lifted spar to actuate said clutch mechanism.

12. In a propeller of the class described, a plurality of'spars, power-mechanism for lifting said spars, power-mechanism for thrusting said spars, clutch devices to control said lifting and trip mechanisms in the path of said spars to control said clutch devices.

13. In a propeller of the class described, alternately rising and falling spars, guiding tracks for said spars, winding drums to lift said spars, winding drums to give said spars a downward thrust, clutch mechanisms for said winding drums, and trip mechanisms in the path of movement of said spars to alternately clutch and unclutch said lift and thrust drums.

14. In a propeller of the class described,

alternately rising and falling spars, guid-' ing tracks for said spars comprising opposed -rails, cross-heads universally coupled to the upper ends of said spars sliding'in said track-ways, a winding drum for lifting said spars, a. winding drum for giving a downward thrust to said spars, clutch devices controlling said drum, and trip mechanisms on said tracks in the paths of said spars to operate said clutch devices.

15. In a propeller of the class described, a propelling spar, a guiding track for said propelling spar having a straight lower section and a curved upper section, and power-mechanism for lifting and thrusting said spar.

16. A propelling spar having its lower thrusting means, and

propelling spars, of

end provided with a fixed engaging point and an engaging foot pivoted to the under side of said spar adjacent said engaging point and projecting there-from at an angle.

17" A propelling spar having its lower end provided with a fixed engaging point, a foot pivoted to the underside of said spar adjacent said engaging point adapted to swing perpendicular thereto when thrust against the bottom of a streal'n, and a spring for pres mg; said foot when disen aged to ward the underside of said spar.

18. It propelling spas having its lower end provided witha fixed engaging point, a foot pivoted to said spar adjacent the under side of said engaging point, and a rigid support against which said foot is pressed and by which it is sustained when i in its open position.

19. In a propeller of the class describec, a plurality of guiding tracks, propelling spars mounted for reci nocation on said tracks, winding drums for lifting said spars, winding drums for exerting a downward thrust on said spars, clutch devices con trolling said winding drums, spring-retracted latches on said guiding "tracks connected with said clutch devices, trips on said spars to actuate said spring latches, and. means to disengage said trips and latches at predetermined point.

20. in a propeller of the class described a plurality of guiding tracks, propelling spars mounted for reciprocation. on said tracks, winding drums for lifting said spars, winding drums for exerting a dmvnward thrust on. said spars, clutch devices controh ling said winding drums, spring-retracted latches on said guiding" tracks connected with said clutch devices, trips on said spars to actuate said spring latches, and a latchengaging lug to throw said latch and disengage it from said trip device at a prede tel-mined point.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN BEAM.

Witnesses:

ina'raoos M. Sruonsn, A. V. CUsnMAN. 

